Free Module 1: Principles of Feng Shui

Chapter 6: The Chinese Calendar

The Chinese  Calendar System consists of the combination of:-

The Ten Heavenly Stems + The Twelve Earthly Branches

The Ten Heavenly Stems

Heavenly Stem Element Planet Direction Jia (hard wood) Wood Jupiter East Yi (soft wood) Wood Jupiter East Bing (sun fire) Fire Mars South Ding (kitchen fire) Fire Mars South Wu (mountain earth) Earth Saturn Centre Ji (sand earth) Earth Saturn Centre Geng (rough metal) Metal Venus West Xin (refined metal) Metal Venus West Ren (sea water) Water Mercury North Gui (rain water) Water Mercury North

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 The Twelve Earthly Branches

Earthly Branch Element Hour of Birth Direction Rat Water 11.00pm - 12.59am North Ox Earth 1.00am - 2.59am North-East Tiger Wood 3.00am - 4.59am North-East Rabbit Wood 5.00am - 6.59am East Dragon Earth 7.00am - 8.59am South-East Snake Fire 9.00am - 10.59am South-East Horse Fire 11.00am - 12.59pm South Ram Earth 1.00pm - 2.59pm South-West Monkey Metal 3.00pm - 4.59pm South-West Rooster Metal 5.00pm - 6.59pm West Dog Earth 7.00pm - 8.59pm North-West Pig Water 9.00pm - 10.59pm North-West

The Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches combine together to form 1  Cycle of the Lunar Calendar:-

Looking at the diagram, 1 Cycle of the lunar calendar consists of 180 years.

Each cycle is divided into 3 groups: Upper, Middle and Lower. Each group comprise 3 periods. Each  period is 20 years.

We are now in the Period 7 of  the lower period. In eight years time in the year 2004, we will be entering PERIOD 8 in year 2004.